Graphic Novel Roundup: Stolen Brains, Evil Leagues, and a Poignant Journey Home

Avengers & X-Men: Axis, by Rick Remender, Adam Kubert, Lienil Francis Yu, Terry Dodson, and Jim Cheung
First up: THEY STOLE THE PROFESSOR’S BRAIN! The Red Skull, mysteriously (but unsurprisingly) back from the dead, has taken Charles Xavier’s body, and is using the Professor’s brain (because: gross) to manipulate the world into turning against the heroes of the Avengers and X-Men, and the good guys against each other. In trying to defeat the Skull, Doctor Doom and Scarlet Witch inadvertently cast a spell that leads to several “inversions,” i.e. good guys gone bad and vice versa. This was Marvel’s big crossover event late last year and led directly to changes across the timeline, including the appearances of a new Thor and a new Captain America, as well as a “Superior” Tony Stark who never quite recovers from his own inversion. This chunky hardcover collects all nine parts of the core Axis series.

Just So Happens, by Fumio Obata
Taking a break from superheroes for a moment, writer and animator Fumio Obata’s American debut is coming out in paperback. In pencils and bright watercolors, Obata tells the story of Yumiko, a Japanese girl who moved to the U.K. several years ago. After a difficult period of adjustment, she has a comfortable life in London, and a fiancée whom she’s kept secret from her parents. The death of her father forces her to return home, and in the process she finds herself to be just as much of an outsider in her native land as she ever was back in England. It’s a thoughtful story about grief, outsiders, and moving beyond family expectations.

Batman Beyond: Justice Lords Beyond, by Kyle Higgins, Christos Gage, and Thony Silas
Following the death of the Flash in an alternate timeline, the Justice League went bad, killing President Lex Luthor and establishing themselves as rulers of a once-free world. “Our” League met up with these guys in the Justice League episode “A Better World,” and they’re back in this concluding volume of the Batman 2.0 comic series from Kyle Higgins and Christos Gage. Batman-of-the-future Terry McGinnis is getting a reboot this fall following D.C.’s big Convergence event, and this looks like it might be the last we see of the DCAU (that’s DC’s animated universe) continuity for some time.

Justice League Vol. 5: Forever Heroes (The New 52), by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, Doug Mahnke
An evil League is running the show in D.C.’s main continuity as well. Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis continue their run on the centerpiece Justice League book with volume 5, now in paperback. The primary companion to the big Forever Evil crossover, this collection includes the origins of the JL’s evil counterparts in the Crime Syndicate. It also throws a spotlight on Cyborg, and sees the introduction of the New 52’s take on the Metal Men.

Hawkeye vs. Deadpool, by Gerry Duggan, Matteo Lolli, Jacopo Camagni
Zaniness and shenanigans abound whenever Deadpool shows up. Hawkeye’s penchant for giving out full-sized candy bars on Halloween triggers a five-part team-up/fight between Clint and Wade. The adventure involves budding crime lord Black Cat, who finds herself in possession of a classified S.H.I.E.L.D. flash drive. Fans should expect veteran Deadpool-writer Gerry Duggan’s trademark wackiness.
What’s on your pull list?